Shopping hours in Mauritius’ main cities run from 9.30am to 7.30pm (Monday to Saturday). Some shops open until noon on Sundays and public holidays. Many duty free shops and modern shopping centres offer a wide choice of products. Please note that shops only open for half-days on Thursdays in Rose-hill, Vacoas, Curepipe and Quatre-Bornes.

International Driving Licence

In Mauritius, driving is undertaken on the left-hand side of the road and drivers have to give way to traffic from the right. Visitors with a driving licence issued by a competent authority in their respective countries are allowed to drive during their stay in Mauritius.

Passengers over 18 years of age may import the following duty-free items: 250 grams of tobacco (including cigars and cigarettes); one litre of spirits; two litres of wine, ale or beer; one quarter litre of Eau de Toilette; and perfume not exceeding 100 milliliters.

A plant import permit must be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture prior to the introduction of plants and plant materials in to Mauritius, including cuttings, flowers, bulbs, fresh fruits, vegetables and seeds.

It is prohibited to introduce sugarcane and parts thereof, soil microorganisms and invertebrate animals. All imported animals and all other agricultural products require an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and a health certificate from the country of origin.

Drug trafficking carries very heavy penalties. Firearms and ammunition require import permits and must be declared upon arrival.

• There are no poisonous reptiles or dangerous animals on the island. But nature being what it is, some small creatures can inflict painful stings. Some individuals can be allergic to wasp stings, for example.

• Contact a chemist or a doctor in case of several stings – particularly on the head and on the face.

• There are a few fish and invertebrates in Mauritian waters that are known to be harmful – namely sea urchins, stonefish and lionfish. It is advisable to enquire of their existence in the waters around a given resort. Be careful not to step on them, and consider wearing light shoes while swimming.

• Never drink alcohol during or just before swimming, boating or water-skiing.

• Whenever young children are swimming, playing or bathing, make sure an adult is constantly watching them.

• To prevent choking, never eat food or chew gum while swimming, diving or playing in water.

• If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore. Once you are out of the current, swim towards the shore.

• Use approved personal flotation devices such as life jackets when boating – regardless of distance to be travelled, size of the boat, or swimming ability of the boaters.

Most of the locals in Mauritius make use of the bus, as the network spreads throughout the country. Making use of the bus is an unique experience, said to be something every visitor to the island needs to undergo. It is not very comfortable on the buses and this is the cheapest way of travelling / getting around the island. A few tips to remember: if you have to change your bus en route, you would need to buy a new ticket. Ticket prices range between 20 – 25 R’s. Tickets can be purchased at the Controller, who joins the bus. The sign on the front of the bus, indicates the last stop. Buses do not usually keep to a time table.

Here is a list of some of the bus companies:

• Mauritius Bus Transport (MTB): +230 245 2539

• National Transport Corporation (NTC): +230 426 2938

• Triolet Bus Service (TBS): +230 2616725

• United Bus Service (UBS): +230 212 2026

• Rose Hill Transport (RHT): +230 464 1221

Car Rentals

For a directory link to Car Rental Companies in Mauritius CLICK HERE. Note, when renting a car in Mauritius, make sure it has a yellow licence plate, that way you know it is an official rental car.

A trip requires careful planning. Listed below are important steps you can take to prepare for a safe trip anywhere outside the United States. In addition, you can search for your destination to view more specific information about that country or area.

Getting There

Beware of Any Travel Alerts and Warnings for Your Destination
The State Department issues Travel Warnings to recommend postponing travel to a country because of civil unrest, dangerous conditions, terrorist activity or, in some cases, because the U.S. has no diplomatic relations with the country and may have great difficulty in assisting U.S. citizens in distress. Travel Alerts disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats or other relatively short-term or transnational conditions that could pose significant risks to you and affect your travel plans.

Do You Have All Required Travel Documents?

Most U.S. citizens must use a U.S. passport to travel overseas and reenter the United States. A passport is an internationally recognized travel document that verifies your identity and citizenship. Only the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassies and Consulates have the authority to issue or verify U.S. passports.

Most foreign countries require a valid passport to enter and leave. Some countries may allow you to enter with only a birth certificate, or with a birth certificate and a driver’s license, but all persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air, must present a valid passport to reenter the United States.

If you are traveling by land or sea, you must provide evidence of both your U.S. citizenship and your identity when you reenter the United States. For many land or sea trips this means you can travel using the new U.S. passport card instead of the normal passport book.

What about your children? Some countries have instituted requirements to help prevent child abductions and may require travelers to present proof of relationship to the children and evidence of consent from any non-accompanying parent(s).

When does your passport expire? Some countries require that a traveler’s passport be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of the trip. Contact the embassy of your foreign destination for more information.

Are You Prepared for an Emergency?
Make sure you have the contact information for the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you are going. Consular duty personnel are available for emergency assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at U.S. embassies, consulates, and consular agencies overseas and in Washington, D.C. If your family needs to reach you because of an emergency at home or if they are worried about your welfare, they should call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours). The State Department will relay the message to the consular officers in the country where you are. The consular officers will then try to locate you, pass on any urgent messages, and, if you wish, report back to your family in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Do You Plan to Drive Overseas?

If you plan to drive overseas, you may need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP). Many countries do not recognize U.S. driver’s licenses, and it is illegal to drive without a valid license and insurance in most places. You should check with the Embassy of the country where you plan to travel, to find out more about the driver’s license and car insurance requirements. Foreign embassy and consulate contact information can also be found on the Country Specific Information for each country.

If you will be residing overseas for an extended time, it is a good idea to obtain a local driver’s license as soon as possible, since an IDPs is not always valid for your entire length of a stay abroad, and often is only valid if presented in conjunction with a valid U.S. or local license. To renew a U.S. driver’s license while abroad, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in your home state.

Pack Smart!

• Pack light so you can move more quickly and have a free hand when you need it.

• Carry a minimum number of valuables and plan places to conceal them.

• Avoid packing IDs, tickets and other vital documents in backpacks or other locations you won’t be able to see at all times.

Do You Have Photocopies of Your Itinerary and Travel Documents?

Make two photocopies of all your travel documents in case of emergency or if your documents are lost or stolen. Leave one copy with a friend or relative at home. It is always a great idea to let at least one person know exactly where you will be staying and how to contact you in an emergency. Carry the other copy with you stored separately from the originals. Documents to make copies of include:

• Passport ID page

• Foreign visa (if applicable)

• Itinerary

• Hotel confirmation

• Airline ticket

• Driver’s license

• Credit cards brought on the trip

• Traveler’s check serial numbers

Your Safety

Prepare to Handle Money Overseas

• Check and understand the exchange rate before you travel.

• Before you leave, notify your bank, credit card company, or other financial institutions that you are going overseas.

• Avoid carrying cash and consider using traveler’s checks or major credit cards instead (but make sure they are accepted at your destination before departing on your trip).

• Change traveler’s checks only as you need them.

• Do not flash large amounts of money when paying a bill.

Learn about local laws and customs

While traveling, you are subject to the local laws even if you are a U.S. Citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own and it is very important to know what’s legal and what’s not. If you break local laws while abroad, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution, and the U.S. Embassy cannot get you out of jail.

Your Health

Do You Need Any New Vaccinations?

Vaccinations Are Required for Entry to Some Countries

Some countries require foreign visitors to carry an International Certificate of Vaccination (aka Yellow Card) or other proof that they have had certain inoculations or medical tests before entering or transiting their country. Before you travel, check the Country Specific Information and contact the foreign embassy of the country to be visited or transited through for current entry requirements.

Health Experts Recommend Vaccinations for Travel to Some Countries

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) can provide you their recommendations for vaccinations and other travel health precautions for your trip abroad.

Learn what medical services your health insurance will cover overseas. Although some health insurance companies will pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad, very few will pay for a medical evacuation back to the U.S., which can easily cost over $10,000, depending on your condition and location. Whether your insurance is valid overseas or not, you may be required to pay for care when you receive it.

If your insurance policy does not cover you abroad, consider purchasing a short-term policy that does. Many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

Are You Taking Any Prescriptions or Other Medications?

If you take prescription medication:

• Pack enough to last your entire trip, including some extra in case you are unexpectedly delayed.

• Carry your medications in their original labeled containers, and pack them in your carry-on bag since checked baggage is occasionally lost or delayed.

• Ask your pharmacy or physician for the generic equivalent name of your prescriptions in case you need to purchase additional medication abroad.

• Get a letter from your physician in case you are questioned about your carry-on medication; some countries have strict restrictions on bringing prescription or even non-prescription medications into the country without proper medical documentation.

A visa is an official acknowledgement issued by the Immigration Office/Embassy/Consular of Mauritius, indicating that your application to enter Mauritius has been reviewed by an Immigration Officer and that the officer has determined you are eligible to enter or transit in Mauritius for a specific purpose.

A visa, therefore, simply allows the bearer to travel to Mauritius up a port of entry and does not implicitly guarantee right of admission into Mauritius. The final decision to admit a non-citizen rests with the Immigration Officer after examination at the point of entry in Mauritius. He/she decides how long the person can stay for any particular visit.

Visas and Extensions of stay are issued free of charge.

Categories of persons who are exempted from Visa

The following are exempted from Visa Regulations:-

(a) Citizens of Mauritius;

(b) Persons who are residents of Mauritius under the Immigration Act;

(c) The Spouse of a citizen of Mauritius;

(d) The child or step child or lawfully adopted child of persons referred to at (a) and (b) above;

(e) Holders of Diplomatic Passports other than those issued by the Government of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen;

(f) Crew of a vessel travelling on duty or in transit to join another vessel;

(g) Holders of Laissez-passer issued by the United Nations, SADC or from other internationally recognized organizations, and;

(h) Persons who intend to remain in Mauritius only during the stay of a vessel by which they arrive and depart.

Who Needs a Visa?

• All persons coming from countries which are not exempted from visa requirements – Please refer to Visa Requirement Country-wise (See below).

• All persons coming to Mauritius for purposes other than Tourism, Visit or Business need to apply for a visa/permit before undertaking any travel.
General Information

• Non-citizens travelling to Mauritius without a visa (if required) may be repatriated to their country of origin or residence at the transporting carrier’s cost.

• Any person who stays in Mauritius after the expiry of the period for which he obtained a visa or entry permit as the case may be, shall commit an offence and shall be liable for prosecution by a Court of Law.

• Non-citizens travelling to Mauritius as tourists/visitors are not allowed to engage in any gainful activities or apply for extension of visa to follow studies/training courses.

• Any person who wishes to seek employment or to engage in any gainful occupation in Mauritius will not be allowed to enter Mauritius unless he is the holder of valid residence permit and a work permit issued by the Mauritian Authorities.

• Prospective students are advised to travel to Mauritius only after their application for study/training in Mauritius has been approved.

• Non-Citizens coming to celebrate their marriage in Mauritius should comply with the requirements of Civil Status Act.

• A non-citizen coming to get married to a Mauritian should fulfill the requirements under the Civil Status Act.

• Non-citizens coming to Mauritius for business may apply for an Occupation Permit to Passport and Immigration Officer through Board of Investment as Investor, Self-Employed and Professional.

Visa Requirement Country-wise

Note 1: Accompanying foreign personnel of Arab visitors and who are from Philippines and Sri Lanka only are granted visa facilities on the following conditions:

1. visa for a period of one month will be issued on arrival;

2. they should be accompanied by their employer who should be from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or Bahrain;

3. they should be in possession of a Residence Permit valid for a period of at least three months in the country of residence of their respective employers as above and

4. they should hold a valid passport or other recognized travel documents where expiring date is beyond date of departure.

See more about the Government of Mauritius, Legislation, E-services, Media, News and Events at http://www.gov.mu/

MTPA Tourism Office

Plan your trip to Mauritius with this informative site about the in’s and out’s of Mauritius, with Interactive Map, Events Calendar, Weather and Insights into the island activities on http://www.tourism-mauritius.mu/.